Destroying Food / Messy Eater

[Alf_uk]

I am looking for some advice.

I have had a Bumblebee Royal Python for 2 months now and we purchased from a local breeder , he weighed 110g when I got him. He is a very aggressive feeder and will strike first time once food is offered. However his is a very messy eater, just ends-up destroying his food.

Is started him on Mouse hoppers as that is what the breeder was feeding him and after 5 days to let him settle in he ate first time, and again 7 days later. His weight now was 120g.

I then moved him onto weanling mice and thats when the problem started. He strikes hard and fast but just can't manipulate the body onto a position where he can eat it. He just thrashes around for 30 mins before it bursts and there is blood and guts everywhere. He then disappears into his hide for 48 hrs. I've tried him twice on weanling mice and also a small rat pup and each time is the same. (His weight dropped to 116g)

I switched him back onto mouse hoppers in the hope I could feed 2x in a feed but as soon as the first one is down, he is back in his warm hide. (I tried this twice). His weight is now 114g.

How can I get him to put on weight as hoppers won't sustain him and he just rips the weanling mice / rat pups apart ?

Hope you can help..

[Reptile$ 4 Life]

Your feeding f/t correct? If so try to make sure that your bp bites the head of the prey item. That should make it easier for him to find it. As for the rodents bursting I am not to sure... maybe you are heating them up to much.

[Craiga 01453]

How are you heating the prey?

My advice is stick to mice for now. You know he eats mice. Be consistent with your offerings too. Don't bounce from mice to rats, etc...

I've honestly never heard of this behavior before, I'll be interested to see if others have.

The only "exploding prey" I've heard of is from overheating.

[Bogertophis]

Yes...how ARE you thawing the rodents? We don't all do it the same way...

I recommend thawing in cold water, change water a few times for larger prey -when it gets too cold to thaw quickly. Prolonged time thawing is NOT what you want...&
small prey like you're currently feeding won't take that long (maybe 30 minutes at most) just until it's soft thru-out.

Feel by hand to make sure it's thawed...only then put briefly (few minutes) in very warm water (not hot or boiling), & use a hair (blow) dryer to warm the head a bit more
right before offering but only if the snake needs it. It sounds like yours does not...maybe if the prey was a bit cooler, his response would be also? Just a thought...

In any event, rodents that fall apart easily are generally spoiled, so maybe that's also why he's not eating them? Thaw properly so they aren't spoiled, offer head-first by
tongs & see if that helps. His hyper response may also be due to hunger, if he's been refusing them, so help him out & get it right.

[Craiga 01453]

In any event, rodents that fall apart easily are generally spoiled, so maybe that's also why he's not eating them?

Interesting point. I haven't (thankfully) run into that through the years so I never would have thought of it. It makes perfect sense though.

[Alf_uk]

As the food is still small I am leaving them on the top of his plastic viv and letting them thaw naturally. After 2 hrs they are all thawed out. I put them in a zip-bag in warm "ish" water for a minute before feeding with forceps.

He goes crazy as he can smell the food and is in full hunting mode by the time i feed him. No messing about.

As someone mentioned he always strikes at the middle of the mouse. Is there a trick to get him to strike the head ? Am I being thick or just hold it higher ?

[Bogertophis]

As the food is still small I am leaving them on the top of his plastic viv and letting them thaw naturally. After 2 hrs they are all thawed out. I put them in a zip-bag in warm "ish" water for a minute before feeding with forceps....

And that's why they're spoiling & falling apart... Whole animals like we feed snakes are full of bacteria (in the gut) just waiting for the temps. to warm up-
THAT's WHY it's best to thaw them quickly. Science fact: temperatures transfer fastest thru WATER, not air.

And because he's been smelling it for a while, it's also why his response is HYPER.

... Am I being thick....?

And that would be yes...

[Alf_uk]

And that's why they're spoiling & falling apart... Whole animals like we feed snakes are full of bacteria (in the gut) just waiting for the temps. to warm up-
THAT's WHY it's best to thaw them quickly. Science fact: temperatures transfer fastest thru WATER, not air.

And because he's been smelling it for a while, it's also why his response is HYPER.



And that would be yes...

Thanks Bogertophis ... Everyday is a school day ...

[Bogertophis]

Thanks Bogertophis ... Everyday is a school day ...

You're forgiven... Unless you enjoy "re-inventing the wheel"? That's why we share info here...